If you watched the PBS Frontline special on Haiti and the earthquake, we're interested in hearing your thoughts. On all of it, or any one part of it. If you missed it the entire thing is available on line. (Embedded below.) Did anything surprise you?
Even having seen so much first hand, that was very difficult to watch.
Praying for the common Haitian person, praying that they get the help they need and that their nation will be healed. Praying for all that attempt to help with rebuilding and healing. May they have pure motives with wisdom and discernment and love.
![Livesay [Haiti] Weblog](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WImkelA85fQ/T774B_tbjMI/AAAAAAAANjM/Zup5rYTxdWs/s810/blog%2Bheader%2BTRL2011-07-07_%2B%25281%2529.jpeg)
Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth; better to have taken some risks and lost than to have done nothing and succeeded at it. -erwin lutzer
36 comments:
I watched the first half and I couldn't watch any more. I will finish it tomorrow. Too much.
I want to comment, but words don't even come....let's say, my heart is breaking again.......
Love you
PS I kept wondering what YOU all thought..now I know.
I thought it was hard to watch as well and can not begin to imagine how hard the visual scenes and feelings of helplessness must have been. I know disasters are never neat but this must have been mind boggling. Overwhelming and just frustrating. I believe the Haitians handled it better than we would have here in USA.
It irked me that the USA sees this as an investment where it sounds like they are expecting a monetary return. I hope and pray that those in the higher are doing things with a pure heart.
I'm worried about when the rains come harder and how that will affect the overflow of waste. The people's resilience in building as fast and best as they can is inspiring and sad at all the same time. I wish that major builders could get in there and affect some real progress. Why is building of new homes taking so long?!?
For all the celebrities that were there beforehand--what did they accomplish?!?
Only venting now, I think.
Praying for the innocent to be protected at night...
Just watched online. It seemed if all of the NGOs were portrayed as a "bad" thing. I don't know how Haiti would be functioning without them. I do, however, see the importance of raising up a nation of Haitians who can support themselves. What's the anwer? Not sure. I do know that during my stay in Haiti, there was a marked difference in the people in the communities where the local pillar was a living, breathing, God-fearing church body. I try and remember that our God can move mountains, including mountains of rubble.
So interesting to read the other comments. So many valid viewpoints, from one show.
What struck me most was hearing from the UN and various envoys. It's too easy to condemn them (UN particularly) for their impotence. Yet, when you take a peek inside their world, you realize they want and care and feel just as deeply as the rest of us.... but are unable to break the restraints that come with being a large, bureaucratic org.
Beyond that, the program touched that nerve, that makes me angry with my "typical" fellow American citizen. Nearly every time I mention how deeply I ache for the conditions in Haiti, someone here counters by mentioning our own poor and needy. Defensively, as if we can't possibly care for Americans, and Haitians, simultaneously. I am choked with anger at other Americans who think our problems are on par with Haiti's.
Bless you and your family, and thanks for continuing to share your journey with us.
I think that all I can say is Haiti is complicated and it will continue to be complicated for some time to come.
I'll try not to stir up too much trouble when I'm there this time. No promises though. It is hard to not stand up and say with my female power that this is NOT ok.
xo-you all impress me so
Four Martins -
Almost every time an article is posted on line about work in another land (other than the USA) some good ole'boy makes a stupid comment about just staying put and "helping our own." (Then he heads to the fridge for another Miller High Life to enjoy with some Jerry Springer.)
I get a little bit pissy when I read that sort of ignoramus type comment.
People that say that are usually doing nothing for anyone - (unless you count themselves).
Truth is, we have enough love and enough wealth to reach out and touch many lives ... both in the USA and abroad. We can help the poor in our neighborhoods and we can answer God's call to the poor abroad. The bigger issue is trying to do it responsibly and with concern for the future of the people we wish to "help".
The "but there are poor people in America" line doesn't really fly so much with me. (And of course there are - but there is no comparison.)
I thought it was interesting to listen to UN people admit that they did not want to coordinate workers or supplies immediately after the disaster. That was certainly glaringly apparent in the first ten days. It was every man and organization for himself ... wild west disaster response.
I thought the show was well done and covered a lot, given the time constraint of one hour. It was difficult to watch the bulldozer "burials" and the agony of the people having to suffer amputations with no anesthesia and no pain killers. I can't even wrap my mind around that -- unthinkably horrifying. My sister and I both were crying.
Prior to watching, I felt a lot of cynicism toward Bill Clinton's role, but now I'm getting the feeling that he truly does care.
I hope PBS Frontline revisits Haiti in future shows to show progress or lack thereof, especially when it comes to relocating those in flood and mudslide zones. This will be a monumental task but must be done to prevent many thousands more deaths. The logistics are difficult enough -- convincing the people to move may be equally difficult, and that worries me.
(Stream of consciousness writing here :)
I pray for Haiti without ceasing, and urge others to do the same. My God is an awesome God (a favorite song :), and only through His divine providence and mercy will the right people, tools, equipment and, yes, miracles, be brought forth to save the people of Haiti.
Thank you, Troy and Tara, for your love and work for Haiti. Your blog and tweets have enriched my life.
How can we get homes built quickly, econmically and structurally sound and get people sone system for growing their own food?
I wish I could get in there and help with that.
all the suffering. It is heart-breaking.
Praying for the people of Haiti tonight.
Blessings,
Sandwich
I cant even begin to express how I feel right now. To see the turmoil and devestation that has occured and will continue to occur in Haiti is heartbreaking. How can I help? is the only question that comes to mind, because asking why will never be answered. I thank God for people like yourself, who are selfless beyond comprehension, and hope that many more people will continue to lend a hand.
I cant even begin to express how I feel right now. To see the turmoil and devestation that has occured and will continue to occur in Haiti is heartbreaking. How can I help? is the only question that comes to mind, because asking why will never be answered. I thank God for people like yourself, who are selfless beyond comprehension, and hope that many more people will continue to lend a hand.
I watched it online after seeing your post.
I know the UN is made up of people. I know that people are imperfect but I feel like they wimped out.
I wish that there was a way that I could make a difference. I know that prayer makes a difference but sometimes I wish there was more I could do. Watching the news and programs like this make me feel overwhelmed and powerless.
6000 NGOs? Are you kidding? In some ways I think that is fantastic that so many groups are trying to make a difference. In other ways it horrifies me. I think that one of the reasons that we need to have the UN or the government help so much is because the church has in many ways failed. Not only in Haiti but even in our own communities. I really believe that if the church really REALLY gave the way that Jesus would want us to, and if we really lived in community giving and helping everyone in need - we wouldn't need the UN. People would know that if they had a need the church would help. Don't get me wrong, I know lots of people help but how much more of a difference could we make if we all sacrificed a little more.
Comments like "what about the poor people here?" drive me crazy. I want to ask those people if they are actually helping the poor in their own country, city or backyard. I get the feeling that those who are giving actually give to anyone in need and the complainers actually give to nobody.
I think it is awful that we need the help of Hollywood to get and maintain interest.
I am also reminded by watching Frontline that we need to pray about that rain. If Elijah could pray for rain to be held off - so can we.
Laura
from Canada
I'll be honest, when I ask people to watch something about human suffering and then they say "I couldn't watch it . . .", I get totally irritated. I always think they are just wanting to look away from things they don't want to see. But this. I couldn't do it. I got through five minutes and thought I would throw up. Racking sobs, shaking, feeling like retching, unbelievably grieved for these people and anger. So much anger.
I will try again tomorrow.
I thought I would watch just a few minutes of this but was unable to walk away when I started watching. I was so saddened, angry, hurt, hopeful, amazed, awestruck and I felt so helpless. What an unbelievable tragedy that just keeps on. Those people in our nation who have so little, still have so much more than so many Haitians. I for one will not turn away from this disaster or these people. I hope none of us will. May God watch over this nation and may we not turn our back on it's people.
I have to be honest, Haiti was never on my radar until after the earthquake. Your blog has been like a book that I just can't put down. When you sent out calls for nurses to come help I wanted to jump on a plane and head right over. Not so realistic since I don't even have a passport. And now, after watching Frontline, I am so glad I couldn't go, but I also want to go even more. I know it doesn't make much sense. The images were difficult to watch on TV let alone in real life. I am truly in awe of what you and so many others are doing over there pre and post EQ. Thank you for bringing a little reality into my life. I will not stop praying for you and for Haiti. But more than that, I will do my part from here, be it getting awareness out there through my blog and FB or sending money. I pray you get back home soon, but that you also find some rest, peace and healing while you are here in the US.
As a mom to two Haitian children, it was hard to watch. It's that "those faces are the faces of my children" bit, literally. While I don't maintain that we had any great relationship with their birth families, I still cannot help but wonder if we will ever know what happened to them in the earthquake and I feel a sense of loss over that. One thing I noticed was that PBS didn't communicate what things were like pre-earthquake. As in the hospital wouldn't have had food or water for it's patients pre earthquake or that sanitation was an issue pre earthquake. I also thought that it was interesting to see the viewpoint on the number of NGO's. At first I wanted to just be angry and assume they were discounting amazing work of so many people. But then I kind of heard what they were saying that there needs to be some collaboration between government and the NGO's for the people to put their faith in the government and for the government to have a place of power/authority. It doesn't have to be the national government; even NGOS that make an effort to partner with local city/village governments are in effect empowering the government. For example, RHFH's community projects do just this. They teach the people in their area to be involved and to care about what happens in their area and use local leaders to accomplish this. I also came away feeling better about Bill Clinton's role. It gave me a "job description" of sorts for his envoy position. Before, I wasn't sure what he was doing.
I thought it was well done. Believe it or not, it left me mildly optimistic about Haiti's future. The moment that hit me hardest was when the doctor from Boca Raton, FL pronounced the elderly woman dead and then her daughter started wailing. For some reason that scene affected me more than the more gruesome ones. I hope there will be more programs like this that keep the suffering in our view and remind us to pray and act. It's so easy to forget what's happening a mere few hundred miles from our shores!
Tara:
I watched most of it. The devastation, pain and turmoil of Haiti and it's people were clear. But two things REALLY bug me...
1) I bugs me that there were so many reporters able to be on the frontlines, but no aid. The reporters were doing what they could for people (i.e., man laying in front of police station) - so why couldn't the humanitarian aid get out there? I understand it takes coordination, but someone should have taken the bull by the horns!
2) Instead of talking about all the big NGO's, I wish someone would report from a small one so the world can see that something was being done during that time(i.e., Heartline, WWV, etc.).
It was a good show and everyone should watch it...but there are SO MANY good stories that I wish could be reported!
Questions...what is the UN doing now? Are they helping Haiti, or making things worse? Who is in charge of customs - is situation getting better?
Love you guys!
~Amy in WI
Okay, so I've made three attempts to comment, but then deleted them all...
I watched. I will cotninue to *watch*. I am doing. Wish there was more I could *do*. Love you guys!
We can pray for little or no rain but at the same time, if they don't get rain then the crops that so many depend on will also be hurt. No rain is a good thing and at the same time a bad thing. Am I wrong??
On a beautiful, calm, warm (for MN) evening our power inexplicably went out 40 minutes before the start of the program! I'd done everything possible to position myself to see it, and now this! (Spiritual opposition?) Praise God! My wonderful husband started up the generator and as we watched the whole thing with the generator humming outside, I realized that this must be what life was like pre-quake in Haiti! Responses? I was thankful that the scene in the hospital with someone screaming in the background as they talked about amputations without anesthesia was shortened! I now fully understand the experience of the word "horrific". I was overwhelmed with grief to see the bodies being "dumped" and the on-going pain and suffering of those still alive. I thought the reference to Haiti's historical connection to the Louisiana Purchase was interesting, but didn't carry the U.S.'s obligation to Haiti far enough. The program did seem to be "optimistic", but I wondered about the "reality" of it when I hear so much about how those outside of the "elite" are not receiving the aid that was intended for them. Responses??? I will continue to pray for you, your friends and colleagues and the work of Hearline Ministries and WWV and others who minister to the people of Haiti in God's love.
Now, having read all of the above comments, I have to post a "p.s.". With regard to the "typical" comments about helping those at home, I have to share what the quake did in my life. Before the quake, Haiti "wasn't even on my radar" as someone above said, and even though I saw the poor around me, it really didn't touch me. All I really perceived were my own insignificant "needs" (oh how much it stinks now!) The earthquake shook more than the ground in Haiti - it shook the foundations of many people's hearts, including my own! That feeling of "what can I do" and the helplessness of not having the time, money, resources, or skills to go to Haiti and do anything is propelling me to DO something in my community. I live in a comfortable suburb, and attend church in another comfortable suburb, but all around us are homeless people. Since the earthquake (and the heartquake), I have become involved in a program to provide "hosting" for homeless families in our churches. It's a little thing, requires so little of me, but it is "what I CAN do".
From what I'd read/seen about the show before the broadcast, I thought it would offer a bit more analysis about what went wrong and right about the relief effort... and maybe offer some suggestions for what could have been done. Instead it was primarily a narrative of what transpired.
Even though I've been reading and watching a lot about the earthquake, I agree the it was very hard to watch. For those that did not watch beyond the first half, it does get a bit less graphic in the second half of the show.
I felt both more anger and sympathy towards the UN - anger that they seemed to give up on any attempts at coordinating aid. I understand that it was a very complicated situation (and I certainly don't have any solutions)... but they are supposed to be experts! Sympathy as I thought about how these individuals - who had just lost many of their friends and colleagues - were faced with an impossible task.
I also thought that Hillary dodged the question of how to respond to those who say we have too many problems in the US to help others. She said something along the lines of "great question" and then proceeded to not answer it.
Thanks so much to the Livesays for sharing your experiences... prayers for you.
Wow a bias disclaimer already! The money for Haiti should go to the children, hospitals and to those who suffered the most. The area is a geographical nightmare with earthquakes and hurricanes. Most (not all) could care less about what happens unless its a FREE hand out. Build resorts, vacation hotels (low level), condos, restaurants and other tourist attractions and give them a boost to their economy and JOBS.
Natural disasters are the worst but it gives these places the opportunities to re-group and get their stuff together. (See New Orleans). Where is God? Right there watching and hoping the wake up call is heeded. He didn't cause it but He is watching for the good that comes from it. Don't fall into the trap that so many other countries have put on the US and other giving countries and take the money and blow it away on useless projects and corruption.
Oh by the way could you imagine what $1.5 billion could do for the homeless, hungry and hurting right here in the USA...our own backyard. What a pity!
You can sign this from Steve Sykes
I just thought you might be interested in this young man's walk to raise money for Haiti.
http://www.iwalkforlove.com/
Wow. Very moving. And I agree the UN and supposed "experts" weren't very expert. And they seem pretty immune to criticism that they should have done better which makes them seem arrogent.
I too was hoping for more solutions, like a focus on what worked for the reconstruction following the Asian tsunami--that was a very complex rebuilding as well. Surely some things were learned that could benefit Haiti.
Praying for you all, sent a snail mail donation that I hope will show up in the total for this online fund drive.
When the ministries have figured out the post EQ focus, would love to hear more details.
Love, love, love, your blog--and Barbie's. I check them every day.They are so insightful. I have an internationally adopted child (from Vietnam) and have traveled the developing world as a reporter and short term missionary, and what you say resonates with my heart. Love to all the Livesays and Heartline.
Terri Urban
Tara,
I closed my office door today and watched the entire documentary. I felt completely numb. The gravity of the situation, the sadness and the recovery efforts ahead was too much to comprehend.
As another reader stated, your blog has become a book I can't put down. I've been reading your post-EQ recollections this week, and it wasn't until I watched the Frontline documentary that I understood a fraction of what you must have felt when you decided to remain in Haiti and send your children back to the U.S. I felt the pain that must have consumed you as a mother, but now I understand why you felt compelled to stay. How do you turn away from such desperation? And as much as your blog has brought the tragedy in Haiti to life for me, the images of the Frontline documentary made it real. The scene of the man crouched in the street beside the two boys who lost their lives ... ever since I started reading your blog, I've been profoundly disturbed that here in the U.S., we'll never know that such depths of misery exist. If more people grasped that, would there be more charity in the world? Would we work to find viable solutions to these problems? I want to hold all of those children tightly. God bless you and your family for making a difference, Tara. I have no doubt your children have benefited richly from the experience they've gained in Haiti. The world will be a better place with the kind of cultural consciousness, sensitivity and giving spirit I know your children will carry with them throughout their lives. Your blog inspired me to start exposing my 5-year-old daughter to charitable activities, which flies in the face of our community norms -- but I don't want her to be normal. Thank you, Tara, once again for this blog and the difference you make in others' lives, both in Haiti and for all those who read your words.
Honestly, as I watched I kept trying to put myself there- really THERE and imagine that what I was seeing was not just a movie, but something that really happened. It literally BOGGLES the mind.
I am a student nurse, so the scenes in the hospital were absolutely heartbreaking. Lack of supplies, lack of personnel, lack of space, equipment, etc, etc. It's a wonder they could do anything at all. The sheer immensity of the types of wounds and the number of people was overwhelming to see. And that was just one hospital. It just broke me.
The scene also of the bulldozers just scooping up the bodies with the rubbish just about killed me. I contrasted that in my mind with what happens in a disaster in North America (I am Canadian) like for instance 9/11, when all the tons of rubble was sifted through for remains and the dead were identified and given burial. Why? Are our lives somehow more valuable than theirs? I know it's a matter of "scale" of disaster, but still... the injustice of how the many, many people who died were treated was just sickening.
Finally, I'm not going to lie, what this has done to my faith (already a somewhat tenuous thing) just makes me squirm. What I thought I knew or believed about God has been under fire for a couple of years now and seeing this type of misery and destruction makes me wonder "why"?
I've been reading your blog since the day after the quake, thank you for opening my eyes. I wish you guys all the best - the fact that you can still have faith even having seen this first-hand gives me hope that someday my faith will return.
I found myself overwhelmed when watching frontline. It took me back to your blogs. You actually were there. I whinzed more than once. Being there.....and going back.....the people must be the reason. Unfortunately I did not get a feel for what they are like in frontline, but thank you for how you have shared. I can see why you want to go back and pray that June or sooner happens for you.
Ray Glew
Death without dignity still crushes my soul. Suffering on this level is hard to take in. I knew that CNN was not showing us the gruesome truth, but that truth is TRUTH. I believe everyone (of a certain age) should see this truth. I went to Haiti for the first time in October, and was heartbroken (pre-EQ). I think about Haiti and my "family" of Haitian friends every day, as I know you must. To be open to hearing "The Call", responding and acting on it, now THAT'S the abundant life! (Sounds kinda funny when you're talking about Haiti - until you get there). I glad you both clearly heard His voice.
I also thought is was a very difficult documentary to watch, and had to do it in three parts. I have been to Haiti, and know how difficult it is under the best of times, and I cannot imagine it now. I thank God for you and all the other workers over there helping, and continue to pray for strenth for everyone in Haiti. I also see Bill Clinton in an entirely different light.
I think this was a situation that was so overwhelming that no one can be "blamed" for not doing enough or doing it well enough while in the middle of it.
That said, I found it hard to believe they were shipping clothes there in the first few days - what were they thinking?
But this tragedy was like nothing the world has seen before, and I hope we never see again. It was as bad as the 2004 tsunami, only condensed down to one part of one island.
I will make another donation to help Haiti.
And comparing our poor to third world country poor is ridiculous. I help with feeding the homeless in my town, and yes, they are suffering. But I went to Atlanta Bread Company one Saturday in February and picked up their donation, which is whatever they don't sell that day - which was a HUGE bag of bread goods that was so heavy I could hardly lift it, and which caused the bag to start ripping. Now where in a third world country will you see that?
Nowhere. We have so much, even as some among us are so desperate.
I think one thing we need to do right away is to welcome Haitians to the US if they want to come. There are too many in one place to have an adequate response to their present and upcoming needs.
And then give them jobs when they get here.
I am a long time reader of your blog (via Kristen Howerton), but have never commented. As my husband and I pray about a possible calling to move out of the US and do mission work, I am thankful for your blog and honesty. Your realness is refreshing.
The first part of the video was so hard to watch as everyone has said. The conditions are inhumane. I am in the middle of reading "When Helping Hurts" so I watched the video through that lens. I know that Haiti has been the perfect example of when helping hurts. I am praying that this is a chance to really rehabilitate and develop Haiti effectively. I think that I was most scared of one of the final lines- something to the effect of "major donors will be meeting soon to decide future steps in Haiti." I'm no expert (at all), but just because you're giving the big bucks doesn't mean you know how to rebuild a country.
Interesting that Bill & Hilary Clinton went to Haiti on their honeymoon. I never had much good will for Bill, but I hope and pray he can do some good for Haiti.
I too get irritated with the "why are we giving to Haiti when we have our own poor here at home?" line. Our problems can't be compared. Our Katrina survivors had cities to go to. I was glad I had read a lot about the EQ and effects. Even so, the hospital scenes were shocking. And the man lying on the street and his attachment to voodoo--so sad.
Also, the ties between the Haiti slave revolt against the French and the Louisiana Purchase, I thought was well-covered. I was surprised that Haiti just 200 years ago was so fertile and productive. May it be so again. But who can figure out ways to make it so?
My prayers are with all in the rainy season, the grieving, the new amputees, those struggling to help, those wanting to go back...
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